United States Space Force, An Introduction

Book excerpt: The United States Space Force, An Introduction - Key Concepts and Overall ProgressionSpace-based capabilities provide integral support to military, commercial, and civilian applications. Longstanding technological and cost barriers to space are falling, enabling more countries and commercial firms to participate in satellite construction, space launch, space exploration, and human spaceflight. Although these advancements are creating new opportunities, new risks for space-enabled services have emerged. Having seen the benefits of space-enabled operations, some foreign governments are developing capabilities that threaten others' ability to use space.The Derpartment of Defense proposes to establish, in Fiscal Year 2020, a United States Space Force as a separate branch of the Armed Forces within the Department of the Air Force. If authorized, the Secretary of the Air Force will be responsible for organizing, training, and equipping two separate and distinct Military Services: the United States Space Force and the United States Air Force. A uniformed 4-star Chief of Staff of the Space Force would serve as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A new Under Secretary for Space would provide dedicated civilian supervision of the Space Force.The U.S. military must posture itself to assure freedom of operation in space, to deter attacks, and, when necessary, to defeat adversary space and counterspace threats to the national security interests of the United States and its allies and partners.